suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət How to pronounce suet (audio)
: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow

Examples of suet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beef tallow — a dense fat derived from cow suet sometimes used in cooking and now skin care products — has become increasingly popular of late. Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 7 May 2026 Beef tallow is rendered fat from cows, made from suet that surrounds the kidneys and other organs, according to UT MD Anderson. Ryan Brennan may 5, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026 Give Them Another Food Source Angi also recommends installing a suet feeder to distract the birds from your home and give them a new source of food. Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026 Put it out in a shady space to delay spoilage and replace any remaining suet after two weeks. Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sewet, from Anglo-French suet, siuet, from seu, su hard animal fat, from Latin sebum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suet. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

suet

noun
su·​et ˈsü-ət How to pronounce suet (audio)
: the hard fat around the kidneys in beef and mutton from which tallow is made

Medical Definition

suet

noun
su·​et ˈsü-ət How to pronounce suet (audio)
: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow and that in prepared form is used in some pharmaceutical ointments

More from Merriam-Webster on suet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster